Saudi Arabia: Information on mixed marriages
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SAU14132 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Saudi Arabia: Information on mixed marriages, 1 May 1993, SAU14132, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5540.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Seattle Times reported that marriages between Christians and Moslems are outlawed in Saudi Arabia (10 Nov. 1990).
According to a representative of Middle East Watch in New York, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam (28 May 1993). Muslim men can marry non-Muslim women (Ibid.). However, religions other than Islam are not granted freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia, and there are instances where people have been arrested while openly practising there faith (Ibid.). If a man marries a non-Muslim woman from outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Dubaï), he has to obtain permission from the Ministry of Interior in Riyadh (Ibid.). The representative added that the decision-making process can be very long unless the husband benefits from personal connections (Ibid.). If the husband works in a sensitive security area, his permission may be refused based on the country of origin of his future wife (Ibid.).
Additional and/or corroborating information on this subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.
References
Middle East Watch, New York. 28 May 1993. Telephone Interview with Representative.
The Seattle Times. 10 November 1990. Clifford Godwin. "Rabbi Meir Kahane." (NEXIS)
